ICC judges have filed a lawsuit against Trump over sanctions
Three judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have filed a lawsuit in a U.S. federal court against President Donald Trump and his administration over sanctions imposed on them last year. The plaintiffs claim that the restrictions were unlawful and intended to exert pressure on them because of their professional activities.
The lawsuit was filed by Judges Kimberly Prost (Canada), Solomi Balungi Bossa (Uganda), and Rain Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Hansu (Benin) in a federal court in Manhattan.
The statement notes that the sanctions were not related to any actual emergency or threat to the United States, but were used as a tool to exert influence on members of the international court.
“The sanctions regime was created to exert extrajudicial pressure on these judges and their colleagues at the ICC by targeting their financial and other personal interests. Its goal is to punish them for previous judicial decisions and force them to prioritize their private interests over adjudicating cases based on the law and the facts,” the complaint states.
According to the plaintiffs, the sanctions have significantly limited their ability to lead a normal daily life and access financial services.
“Being subject to such sanctions under the IEEPA is tantamount to a financial death sentence. Because of the sanctions, Judges Prost, Bossa, and Alapini-Hansu can no longer, among other things, use credit cards, access banking services, use common online platforms such as Amazon and Google, book travel, and, in some cases, obtain health insurance,” the document states.
The judges emphasize that the sanctions may also negatively impact the work of the ICC itself, as they complicate the exchange of documents, the submission of evidence, and the adjudication of cases that are or may be pending before the court.
As a reminder, the Donald Trump administration imposed sanctions against certain ICC officials after the court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. An additional source of tension between Washington and the court has been the investigation into possible war crimes committed by U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan.
The judges’ lawsuit could become one of the most high-profile legal confrontations between representatives of international justice and the U.S. administration, as it raises questions about the independence of judicial institutions and the limits of U.S. sanctions mechanisms.
This is reported by Reuters.
Earlier, the governing body of the International Criminal Court decided to suspend Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. The decision is linked to the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings initiated following allegations of sexual harassment. Further details of the case have not been officially disclosed.
The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has responded to the decision regarding the disciplinary proceedings against Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. Officials in The Hague stated that they respect the procedure and will continue to cooperate with the authorities handling the case.
The Supervisory Body of the International Criminal Court recommended the dismissal of Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment.
